Lancer Productions’ presentation of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” opens this weekend, and I have much to report.

The images are grim, and the April 10 first-person report from the Amnesty International fieldworker inside Gaza is sickening:

April 18, 1984: Doug Otto was hired as the fourth superintendent in North Scott’s history. Otto was currently serving as the superintendent at Rockridge, Ill., and would replace Robert “Bear” Stevens, who was taking a position as superintendent in Glenbard, Ill.

The 14th week included a lot of floor debate as we work through bills going through both the House and the Senate.

The 14th week of the 2024 legislative session brought more bills to the House floor. As Chairman of the House Appropriation Committee, I have scheduled budget bills to start being voted on within our committee. We will soon be reaching the end of our session.

If you were having a conversation with your best friend and he said your outfit looked horrible that day, would that make you feel good?

"We are tired of all the shenanigans, power grabs and greed coming from Des Moines. And it is time for a change ..."

"Let’s kindly encourage these foreign athletes to learn our language, and compliment them for each demonstration of progress they make along this very difficult road ..."

"If this bill passes, Iowa farmers and agricultural workers will be unable to hold chemical companies accountable for the dangerous risk associated with using their products ..."

When I was sitting court-side at Vibrant Arena March 15 before the UNI women's game tipped off in the Missouri Valley Tournament, I watched the three-member officiating crew – all women – go through their pre-game warmups and made a mental note of how seriously they were taking their responsibilities.

Kyle and Kerri Rehn of Eldridge are the parents of a son born March 9, 2024, at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport.

A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Dolores Marie "Dot" Cassidy, 93, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 19, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. Visitation will be be 30 minutes prior to Mass on Friday at the church. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Geoffrey and Krista Nitzschke of Cottage Grove, Minn., are the parents of a son born at 11:38 p.m. Feb. 26, 2024, at Woodwinds Hospital, Woodbury, Minn.

Laura Frances “Fran” Huff, 98, passed away on April 3, 2024, at Illini Restorative Care in Silvis. A visitation will take place on April 13 at Weerts Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  A service will follow at 1 p.m.  Burial will take place at Davenport Memorial Park.  Memorials may be left to King’s Harvest Pet Rescue or River Bend Food Bank.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.weertsfh.com.

A funeral service for Laura Frances "Fran" Huff, 98, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Davenport Memorial Park.

A celebration of life for Lisa Maude (Buchheit) Williams (Silverthorn), 57, of Eldridge, will be Friday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf.

Mary I. Murrens, 89, of Moline, passed away Friday, March 29, 2024.

Logan A. Keppy, 22, of Davenport, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital, due to a quick diagnosis and hard-fought battle with cancer. 

Warren F. Hodge, 83, of Eldridge, died Friday, March 29, 2024, at Genesis Medical Center, East Campus, in Davenport.  Memorial services will be held at 12:30 p.m., Friday, April 5, at Chambers Funeral Home in Eldridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services.  Burial will follow at Rock Island National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Scott Rotary, as a scholarship will be established in Warren’s name. Warren's full obituary may be viewed at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.

A memorial service for Warren F. Hodge, 83, of Eldridge, will be held at 12:30 p.m.. Friday, April 5, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary I. Murrens, 89, of Moline, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 4, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Moline. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery. A Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Van Hoe Funeral Home, East Moline, with visitation to follow from 4-6 p.m.

A celebration of life for Lisa Maude (Buchheit) Williams, 57, of Eldridge, will be held from 10 a.m. - noon on Friday, April 5, at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf.

Rick and Donna Sharp will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on April 6. Rick Sharp and Donna Wynn were married in Knoxville, Iowa, at the First United Methodist Church in 1974. Rick was a work experience coordinator at Davenport Central High School. He owned Sharp Driving School for 19 years and taught over 3,000 area students. Donna was an art teacher at North Scott Junior High for 35 years.

Rudy and Marlene Arp of Walcott will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception on Saturday, April 13. All friends and relatives are invited to call from 1-5 p.m. at the Walcott American Legion. No gifts, please.

Ben and Alyssa Schwarz of Eldridge are the parents of a daughter born at 5:59 p.m. March 22, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.